Honey Don't

Not to complain as Lord knows I am not a whiner. Okay, I am! But this whole pregnancy thing is getting old, 27 weeks old to be exact which translates into 2 pounds of baby the size of a head of cauliflower. I am lucky, you don't have to tell me that. But still.

I was going to make list of all my ailments but it might be shorter to just say what's not wrong: I don't have hemorrhoids, varicose veins or stretch marks, yet. And my feet feel amazing! But, I do have everything almost else including: nausea, heartburn, motion sickness, backaches, muscle cramps, permanent stuffy nose, inability to bend over and fat arms, back, & legs (remember when cellulite used to stay on the back of thighs where it belonged?). You know it's true when people stop denying it and say things like "well, you are pregnant" or "your face is still skinny". I have officially gained 20 lbs, almost cracking the sound barrier of 150 lbs. Maybe next week? I have my 1 hour gestational diabetes test on Friday which is another ailment I can do without.

The one cool thing is the feeling the baby kick and punch which happens several times a day now! It reminds me why these discomforts are worth it and that in only 13 short weeks (only 91 short days of nausea, heartburn, motion sickness, backaches, muscle cramps, permanent stuffy nose, inability to bend over and fat arms, back, & legs), we will have another baby girl to light up our lives and this time, chafe my nipples.

I'll never forget you...

conch fritter

A lovely, sunny, relaxing week with Jake Seltz, husband extraordinaire, is coming to a close. We feel rejuvenated and de-stressed, almost ready for real life once again! We have it on good authority that Norelle is alive and well, saying the cutest things.

We read some good books, especially Open and The Help, hit the gym, visited the straw market where we got an adorable purse for Nori with her name sewn on it and a "beautiful shell necklace" which was her request. Did I mention they make the most wonderful non-alcoholic strawberry daiquiris here? Fresh fruit and so good! The Bahamas are known for their fried conch which is not only delicious, but also serves as a good swear word. As in "Oh conch fritter, I got sunburned again! When am I going to remember to reapply my "very water repellent" organic sunscreen?" Or, as a noun like, "Ouch!! The baby keeps kicking me in the conch fritter!".

While this was not a cultural trip by any stretch of the conch fritter, we did accidentally acquire some history when we ventured out to The Fish Fry for some conch and daiquiris. Did I tell you how wonderful they are? Turns out the famed Fish Fry is not a lone restaurant but rather a string of shack-au-rants along the beach. In the '80's the local fisherman used to sell their fresh catch there and sometime their wives and girlfriends would come down and cook the fresh fish. Over time, this turned in the place for locals to eat so the government made them get licenses and open up a legit establishments, hence the Fish Fry was born. Oh, and the daiquiris! Also seems like a good place to buy pot, if you are looking...

That's us (not pictured: Andre Agassi)

our balcony view

Da Daq Shack

local flora

Gilligan's Island

Jake snorkeled and later I swan with him, only after dancing to Baby Mama with the catamaran crew

Bahama Daddy and Bahama Mama

p.s. I left out the part about me puking in the hotel's flower planter. You are welcome.

Greetings from the Carribean

Ahoy! Land ho! No really, I feel like a land ho with this giant tummy. You might think this is an excellent time to rob our house and you would be right... could you please shovel while you are there?

We are relaxing and thoroughly enjoying this fabulous break together! Our flights here went smoothly and Customs was a breeze, for once. Yesterday we sat on the beach and walked to the "food store" to pick up some fresh fruit, yogurt, milk and beverages for the room before ordering room service and collapsing for a 12 hour slumber. Today we chilled by the pool, shared a club sammy (I forgot I shouldn't eat lunch meat!) and salad, worked out at the gym, and then went for a long walk. Now it's time to clean up and try the Asian place next door for dinner. Don't worry, I won't give you a daily play-by-play since this is basically what we will do everyday.

Yep, it's just the three of us here: myself, Jake, and Andre Agassi. I though that by getting Jake to leave his tennis rackets at home we would be free of the sport, however he is reading Open which thrills him to no end causing him to relieve his youth as Andre narrates his career. Things I have learned third-hand include: Andre's dad forced him to hit 2,500 balls a day and built him a tennis court, he was poor having to eat baked potatoes three times a day, the denim jeans shorts and image were made by Nike, his physical endurance was really bad until he hired his trainer Gil, Andre thought Pete Sampras was a joke at first, Andre's brother tried to make it as a pro but did not, his toupee almost fell off at the French Open, and his bike shorts were NOT hot pink rather "hot lava" colored. Later tonight Jake might learn about how it felt to start losing in the Grand Slams and to officially be okay with going bald (hi Case!). Personally, I am currently enjoying Mennonite In A Little Black Dress and am proud to say we have not even thought about turning the TV on. The free Internet access is another thing but we have a child to check on.

How is Nori doing? I mean it, does anyone know? The check-in emails have not yet arrived so I scanned the headlines of the Winona Daily News and no emergencies made the front page. I hope all is well. We miss her and talk about her constantly but remind ourselves of all the work we would be doing if she were here "relaxing" with us. Baby Honey is kicking up her heels and showing her dad how active she can be. We might have agreed on a name for her, but it's so much pressure to find the right not-too-common-not-too-weird-yet-beautiful name that we both love.

Miss you!

My Valentines

At our heart-y breakfast this morning. Not pictured: Dorothy, Honey, and tub of Oreo ice cream.

True love

I know you think that before one starts a new post on their blog they have some idea what they might say. Well, you are wrong. I have nothing. I probably should be all like "Hey, can you believe what is going on Egypt?" (the Sphinx's nose eroded off) or "Come join me at this rally for social justice!" (but really I am staying home). That is just how it is today and you need to give me unconditional love anyway because I am still your one and only.

My friend Pat Mc is going to the Grammy's today! The order of people he should stalk for me goes like this: Harry Connick Jr., Britney Spears, Kim Kardashian, Lady Gaga and Aron Neville's mole. But I think he got it removed?

Apparently Ellen & Charlie were out on the town this weekend and I am kind of hurt they didn't invite us out. Who better to buy shots (Jake) and chant their names (me) than your way older brother and gestating SIL? The worst part was that we missed our chance to hear first-hand about cousin Dominic's new love affair with Indian men in white denim. Stupid once every five year window of fertility!

Just in case you thought I was kidding about having nothing to say, this post should prove it. Do some hip openers today in preparation for Valentines' Day, like we did in yoga.

Happy 30th Birthday Casey!

my weekend

only take one shower - check
get caught up on DVR shows - check
make chicken tortilla soup - check
not clean toy, book, and sock infested house - check
snuggle with daughter - check
watch Business of Being Born with Jake (his take away? "birth is not pretty") - check
take SIL Ellen out to Punch - check
get $42 parking ticket while at dinner - check
Yoga at Blooma - check
allow my child to run wild with older boys at Central HS while we greet at Bloom - check
long nap - check
use up entire box of Kleenex thanks to %#$& cold -check
Super Bowl and chili with Hos - check
not actually watching a minute of the game - check
miss Jake even before he leaves for work trip - check
be mildly nauseated even at 6 months pregnant - check
love my life - check

extreme makeover

first haircut EVER!

and a style!

anything for a lollipop

dress-up and photos

lots of curls, naturally

Oh, Toodles!

I didn't die!

I can breathe! True, I am still stuffy and red-nosed but no longer suffocating! It's a bona fide miracle! Not mention the fact that my fam bought me a pair of stylish MBT boots for my birthday so I am slowing catching up to 2008. My friend loaned me her chic (chic is fancy for cute) maternity jeans so now I can actually leave the house without looking like a total lump-a-dump. At least some days. Finally, we actually felt Honey kick from the outside last night! She gave my tummy a little thump and it even moved! Anterior placenta be damned, I saw it.